Veneers are slices of wood cut to a particular thickness, that are used in two major
ways: firstly, for structural wood products such as plywood or laminates and secondly
for decorative surface veneers, the latter often having a high value or prominent or
unusual appearance. The use of veneers has a long and illustrious history and for
hundreds of years veneers were prepared by hand. Since the early nineteenth century
veneers have been generally produced by three methods: sawing, slicing or rotary
cutting.